ounding head starts //
If a six-year old kid wins the tennis match against the other children, he or she is likely to be encouraged by their parents to play more tennis. Or, to hire a tennis coach. Pretty soon, the kid will be much better than the rest.
If a group’s single gets some attention on Spotify, it is more likely that they will be able find a label or producer.
If a candidate does well in the early stages of a race they are more likely to receive donations, hire consultants, run advertisements and not be discouraged from dropping out.
In our culture, there are clear scarcity-based competitions that reward early successes. This recognition (however unfair and suboptimal this sorting mechanism may be) leads to two very distinct sets of tactics.
A second option is to overinvest and prepare for your debut. You should have a head start if it is rewarded. You can enter school a year late or run for dogcatcher instead of senate.
You’ll ignore head starts if you acknowledge that they are random and reward the wrong people. You should have the resolve and resources to build your following, regardless of your performance in your first interaction. Every day, drip by drip.
Doing both is a sure way to burnout.
